Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-11-11
AN INSTANCE OF SLAVERY.

AN INSTANCE OF SLAVERY.
An event of this week, related to a
slave system, with its chief scene in Sacra-
fnento, if told in modern novel would be
denounced as extravagant, unreal, impos-
sible; if put upon the stage it would be
assailed from all quarters as sensationally
untrue and an outrageous libel upon free
government. The recital is given pro-
minence because the crime of enslaving
human beings is growing to such proper
tons, and the outrages committed under it
are becoming so bold and defiant of the
law, that there is need to call public at
tention to typical case, and to emphasize
the demand that these outrages shall cease
The revelations of the story ought to
make the cheeks of American citizens
burn with shame. The tale is but one of
many such infamous wrongs to which I'M
fortunately our laws lend themselves, and
in which cur officers are frequently made
the tools of villainy. There ought to be
formed a peaceable organization of law.
abiding citizens in every city in Califor-
MIA, determined to set at perfect freedom
by lawful methods every human chattel
held in enslavement. The moral sense of
California communities cannot mach longer
submit to these outrages. 1t is time the
whole infamy was broken up root and
branch, peaceably, by lawful means,
orderly, but with detarmina-
ton brooking no defeat, for
the laws are sufficiently strong to
fortify genuine efforts made to the end in
Dictated. II is by the aid of INSCRIPTIONS
lawyers, the chicane and pliancy of off
GERS, the misuse of Courts and their pro-
cesses, that ignominy and shame is visited
upon our free system by Chinese slave
dealers.
A Chinese woman, aged about %, was
brought to Sacramento in slavery, and put
into house of prostitution to earn money
for her master; as in the cases of scores of
others, constant watch was kept on her
by day, and at night she was securely
locked in. Gifted with something more
than the intelligence usual to these miser-
able human beings and determined to be
free or end her existence, she managed
through a sympathizing Chinaman, to no.
tify Rev. Thos. Filben, worthy and earn
est man, of her desire to escape, and he
sought the aid of Christian people to that
end. Response was made that she should
go fee whenever she desired. Various
expedients were resorted to to get the
woman out of the slaye-pen, which, by the
way.is upon a chief business street and
within pistol shot of this office. One
night, for instance, the rescuing party
waited with hack and fast horses, until
nearly midnight struck, but the poor crea-
ture was unable to get as much as her
head outside the door of her prison.
On Monday afternoon the rescuers
posted themselves with carriage in an
alley next to Third street, between l and
J. Two Constables took positions to cover
the flight of the woman. After tedious
waiting an opportunity presented, and she
dashed from the brothel closely pur-
sued by the nag who was her keeper.
AT the same instant highlander near at
hand rushed upon her. Unfortunately the
woman tripped in gutter and fell The
slayers at once bounced upon her, the
Constables came to her aid and
without Selling her, exercised their right
to give her liberty to go where she chose.
After g long and hard struggle, during
which the street was blocked b. Chinese
mob, the woman, fighting with despera-
ton never before witnessed in one of her
class, tore herself loose and sprang into
the hack, which dashed away, followed by
hundreds of Chinese. At the depot the
slave was aided to Chamber into car
and the train for San Francisco pulled
out in time to defeat the at
tempt of the Chinese to recover
her. As indicative of the resolution of
this human being to be free in free land,
as soon as she gained the hack she tore
from her person the Jewels her masters had
decked her with and threw them from her
with every manifestation of adherence.
Her "masters" were vigilant, however,
and telegraphed to Davisville, at which sta
ton Chinese highbinders entered the train,
and one attempted to carry the woman off
Her protector, Mr.. Filben, appealed to
the passengers, and the tool of the slave
owner was elected from the car without
ceremony.
Evidently Constable Kincaid, of Davis
vile, was secured by telegraph to serve the
Sacramento slave-driver, under some pre-
tence of an otfense against the law having
been committed. Kincaid, with an as
sumption Of authority that ought to break
him from his office, telegraphed to Elmira
to an Constable to stake the woman from
the train at all hazards" The Elmira
Constable attempted to do So Fortunately
there were courageous men on the cars
who knew the law of human rights. Led
by well-known lawyer of San Francisco
they demanded the authority of the officer
TO seize the woman. He had none he had
no charge to prefer, and demanded her
simply on Kincaid's autocratic dictum.
He was persistent but finding he would be
resisted, and the woman appealing to her
rescuers to protect her, the Elmira official
relinquished his task.
At the San Francisco wharf bowling
mob of Chinese, led by notorious high
binders, who had been notified by wire
was in waiting to seize the woman, but
they were foiled. A close hack having
been ordered within the dock Enclosure,
conveyed her by private exit to place of
safety, where she has the companionship
of her sex and is at perfect liberty to come
and go, and is not only content but as
delighted as a child.
In the meantime, every effort has been
made in Sacramento to use the law to